To thank the gods in heaven for protecting mankind during the year, when the first thunder of the year resounds, the shamans (mo Mon) in all villages beat gongs to prepare a ceremony to welcome the gods to drink rice wine with the villagers.
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| When hearing the first thunder of the year, shaman Mon Vi Van Son, Ke Bang village, Chau Hanh commune (Quy Chau) immediately gets up. The first thing to do is to "dap hoa mat" - that is, to get water to wash one's hair, washing away the bad things that have stuck with him in the old year. Then he cleans the swords to prepare for the New Year's ceremony. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| Thai girls are given boiled eggs by their mothers and brought to the stream to wash their faces with the hope of having skin as white as eggs. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| Young girls roll eggs back and forth on their faces while reciting the nursery rhyme: "Xuoi ho na cu mot nung xay/Na cu may nung tinh", which means: Wash your face clean as an egg/Smooth as a wild melon. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| Thai girls sing nursery rhymes by the stream. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| The shaman invites four gods from heaven to welcome the first thunder of the year. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| The ceremony lasts about an hour. The offering tray has 4 bowls, each bowl has 5, 6, 8 and 12 pieces of betel and areca nuts, corresponding to 5, 6, 8 and 12 beeswax candles. In the middle is a plate containing a large piece of beeswax, along with 4 pieces of betel and areca nuts and 4 candles, surrounding the tray are 4 other pieces of beeswax called "khạn khập". Each small bowl is for a god in heaven. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| The thread used to tie the hands of the shaman's adopted children is soaked in a decoction of forest roots, which is believed to cure diseases, ward off evil spirits, and bring good luck... Photo: Luong Nga |
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| The shaman ties colorful strings and necklaces for his adopted children. Shaman Vi Van Son has nearly 100 adopted children in all communes in the district. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| Tying strings on fingers with the wish that the best things will come to children in the new year. Photo: Luong Nga |
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At this time, the women in the kitchen are preparing sticky rice packages to invite guests to the ceremony. Photo: Luong Nga |
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| After the offering, the shaman brings candles to the jar of wine that has been prepared in advance to invite the four gods to drink first, then invites the children and villagers to drink to celebrate the new year. Photo: Luong Nga |
.jpg "Chữ Thái ở Nghệ An, lễ đón tiếng sấm của người Ơ Đu và nghệ thuật trống tế Yên Thành được công nhận di sản văn hóa phi vật thể quốc gia")
